RIMPAC 2014: participating vessels by country

Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014, the world’s biggest multinational maritime exercise, will be held from 26 June to 1 August in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands. The event will involve 23 nations, 48 surface vessels, six submarines, over 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel including representation from first time participants China, India and Brunei.

Australia – Durance and Collins Class

The Royal Australian Navy will be represented at RIMPAC 2014 by Collins-class submarine HMAS Sheean and an auxiliary oiler HMAS Success. A Diving Detachment, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit and land forces are among other detachments participating in the exercise.

Brunei – first time participant

Royal Brunei Navy, one of the debutant participants of RIMPAC 2014, is deploying two Darussalam Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), KDB Darussalam and KDB Darulaman in the exercise. These OPVs were constructed by Lürssen Werft and commissioned in to service in 2011.

More than 140 personnel including crew and technical members will attend the fleet, which arrived in Pearl Harbour, Hawaii on 25 June 2014.

KDB Darussalam (OPV 06) – Darussalam Class Offshore Patrol Vessel

KDB Darulaman (OPV 08) – Darussalam Class Offshore Patrol Vessel

Canada – Halifax, Victoria and Kingston Class

The Royal Canadian Navy is set to deploy Halifax Class frigate HMCS Calgary, Victoria Class Submarine HMCS Victoria as well as Kingston Class Coastal Defence Vessels HMCS Nanaimo and HMCS Whitehorse. The Canadian fleet is also complemented by a clearance dive team, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit and land forces.

Chile – M-Class / Karel Doorman Class

The Chilean Navy’s participation in the exercise is represented by M-Class Frigate CNS Almirante Blanco Encalada (FF 15) along with SH-32 Cougar rotorcraft. The multi-purpose frigate was commissioned in to Chilean Navy in 2005 and took part in RIMPAC 2006.

Colombia – Almirante Padilla Class

The Colombian Navy will be represented by Almirante Padilla (FM-51), the lead vessel of the Almirante Padilla Class Frigates. The vessels built by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) are based on the Blohm + Voss FS 1500 design.

Almirante Padilla (FM-51) – Almirante Padilla Class Frigate

France – follows the course

The RIMPAC 2014 will witness the French Navy’s Floréal Class frigate FS Prairial which also participated in the RIMPAC 2012. France was the only western European nation to deploy a vessel in RIMPAC 2012, but will be accompanied by Norway this time around.

India – debuting with indigenous stealth warship

India will be sending the indigenous built Shivalik Class frigate INS Sahyadri to Hawaii, making it the first Indian Naval vessel to participate in RIMPAC. INS Sahyadri is a multi-role stealth frigate that entered in to service in July 2012.

Indonesia – projecting amphibious landing capacity

The Indonesian Navy in RIMPAC 2014 is represented by KRI Banda Aceh, a Makassar Class Landing Platform Dock built by PT PAL shipyard with assistance from South Korea-based Daesun Shipbuilding & Engineering. Land forces aboard the vessel will demonstrate the amphibious landing capabilities during the exercise.

Japan – Kongo and Hyuga Class

The Kongo Class guided missile destroyer JS Kirishima and Hyuga Class helicopter carrying destroyer JS Ise from the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JSDF) will participate in the exercise. The Japanese fleet is to be accompanied by a Diving Detachment and land forces. The participation in amphibious joint exercises will be vital for Japan as the island plans to build a new amphibious force in the near future.

Mexico – OPV and land forces

The Mexican Navy’s participation in the exercise will be represented by the offshore patrol vessel Revolution. The ARM Revolucion (P 164) is the last ship in the class of four Oaxaca Class Patrol Vessels. Mexican Land Forces are also participating in the drills.

ARM Revolution (P 164) – Oaxaca Class Patrol Vessel

New Zealand – multi-role vessel, land forces and MCM detatchment

The Multi-Role Vessel (MRV) HMNZS Canterbury (L 421), land forces, a Mine Counter Measure Detachment and an Operational Dive Team will represent New Zealand in RIMPAC 2014. HMNZS Canterbury is the first of seven new vessels built under the Project Protector.

Norway – Nansen Class

Norway will be participating in the exercise with its Nansen Class anti-submarine warfare (ASW) frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen. Built by Navantia in 2004, the first in class frigate was commissioned for the Royal Norwegian Navy service in April 2006.

People’s Republic of China – debutant ships at RIMPAC

A four-ship fleet from the People’s Republic of China departed on 9 June 2014 to Hawaii, for the first ever participation in the exercise. China has never deployed vessels in the event before, but sent military observers for RIMPAC 1998. The Chinese fleet in RIMPAC 2014 is composed of the destroyer Haikou, missile frigate Yueyang, the replenishment oiler Yueyang, and hospital ship Peace Ark. The squadron is expected to contain 1,100 personnel, including a dive unit.

The Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) in RIMPAC 2014 will be represented by a Sejong the Great-class destroyer ROKS Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong, a Chungmugong Yi Sunshin Class destroyer ROKS Wang Geon and a Chang Bogo Class submarine. South Korea will also participate beside other nations in EOD and amphibious landing drills, with land forces and EOD unit representing the nation.

Singapore – a formidable participant

The Formidable Class frigate RSS Intrepid will be the only ship representing the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) in RIMPAC 2014. The Formidable Class is a multi-mission variant of the French Navy’s La Fayette class frigate. The participation of RSS Intrepid in RIMPAC 2014 comes after the RSS Formidable’s deployment in RIMPAC 2012.

USA – Arleigh Burke Class Destroyers

The U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), the host of the RIMPAC 2014, is headed by Vice Adm. Kenneth Floyd, and is made up of destroyers, cruisers, frigates, aircraft and helicopter carriers, and support ships. Arleigh Burke Class destroyers including USS Michael Murphy, USS Sampson and USS Spruance will participate in the exercise.

Ticonderoga Class Guided-Missile Cruisers

Four Ticonderoga Class Aegis guided-missile cruisers USS Cape St. George, USS Chosin, USS Lake Champlain and USS Port Royal are set to take part in RIMPAC 2014, constituting the biggest fleet of any single class at the exercise.

Aircraft and helicopter carriers

The NIMITZ Class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) along with its onboard Carrier Strike Group Nine will take part in RIMPAC 2014. Reagan last appeared in the RIMPAC exercise in 2010. The aircraft carrier will be accompanied by a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu.